St. Catharines seminary begins search for president

Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary

During a recent online conference, the Board of Regents of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary (CLTS) in St. Catharines decided the seminary cannot continue operating under temporary leadership. Therefore, following approval from Lutheran Church–Canada’s Board of Directors as mandated in LCC’s Handbook, it has issued a call for nominations for president. Since the resignation of its president in 2008, Rev. Dr. Thomas Winger has served as acting president.

“The board believed it premature to begin searching for a new president before LCC’s convention in June 2011,” noted Rev. Robert Krestick, chairman of the Board of Regents. At the convention delegates gave solid support to a Memorandum of Understanding reached by LCC’s two seminaries and Synod’s Board of Directors which provides for cost efficient and sustainable seminary education. Rev. Krestick pointed out that the memorandum includes “a commitment to investigate institutional merger of the seminaries, but this possibility remains well in the future, and efficient operation of our seminaries is an immediate and ongoing need.”

In addition to concern over temporary leadership, the regents noted that a report by the Association of Theological Seminaries obliges the seminary to fill the office of president to retain its accreditation.

The Memorandum of Understanding commits CLTS and its sister seminary, Concordia Lutheran Seminary in Edmonton to a joint budget cap. The board believes it can call a president for CLTS and keep within the limit which may entail looking at a part-time president position or a president who carries a significant teaching load.

“The Board of Regents has decided that the process of nominations and a proper search will uncover what the possibilities might be,” said Rev. Krestick.

He asks all members of LCC to “think deeply about this great need, to pray about it, and to provide guidance to the board.”

Nominations may be submitted by congregations, the Board of Directors of synod, and by the seminary faculty, and must be received by February 18, 2012. Send nominations to:

Rev. Brian Dunlop,
Secretary, CLTS Board of Regents
136167 Concession 8
Desboro, ON  N0H 1K0
Email: flc@packetworks.ca

Posted By: Matthew Block
Posted On: December 9, 2011
Posted In: Education News, Headline,